Who Loves a Snowstorm? A Panda Bear, That's Who

Not everyone loves a blizzard, but for giant pandas, a ton of snow is the perfect idea of a seriously good time.

The Smithsonian National Zoo shared a video of 264-pound Tian Tian frolicking in the snow Saturday morning. In the video, Tian Tian rolls down a snowy hill and covers himself in the powder.

Like the rest of Washington, D.C. residents, the adult male panda woke up to about two feet of fresh snow this morning. Tian Tian, whose name means "more and more," probably wouldn't mind getting even more of the white stuff.

He'll get his wish: By the time Winter Storm Jonas tapers off by late Saturday, the storm is expected to drop up to 30 inches in the nation's capital.

The baby giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo now has a name: Bei Bei (BAY-BAY), which means "precious treasure," a nod to his sister's name, Bao Bao, which has the same meaning. Bei Bei has come a long way since he was born blind and deaf on Aug. 22. The images below show how the little panda has grown over the past month. [

Bei Bei slept most of the day on Sept. 13, which is typical for young cubs. Keepers noticed that he sleeps with his paw covering his eyes — a position his father, Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN), and sister Bao Bao also prefer. Mei Xiang left her den four times that day, and ate a pear (one of her favorite foods) for the first time since giving birth.

When Mei Xiang left her den to eat and drink on Sept. 5, zoo staff members gently picked up Bei Bei to weigh him and give him a quickmedical checkup. They found that he weighed 14.4 ounces (409.6 grams). Veterinarians also listened to his heart and lungs, and said that both sounded normal.

A veterinary exam on Sept. 17 showed that Bei Bei measured 12.2 inches (31 centimeters) from head to tail. His right front leg was 4 inches (10 cm), and his right hind leg was 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. The cub has an excellent range of motion, and can push up onto his front legs, zoo workers said.
Zookeepers have seen him scooting around the den using his front legs, but he has yet to use all four to walk.

First ladies Michelle Obama of the United States and Peng Liyuan of the People's Republic of China, walked toward the panda habitat at Smithsonian's National Zoo for the panda's naming ceremony Saturday (Sept. 25).